Hat-shaping machine



Aug. 23, 1932.

M. CASSE HAT SHAPING MACHINE 4 Sheetsr-Sheet l Filed June 7, 1929 Aug. 23, 1932. M. CASSE HAT SHAPING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7. 1929 M. cAssE 1,873,285

HAT SHAPING MACHINE Aug. 23, 1932.

Filed June 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /Yarce/ Casse' @1 Nu by A f fof/wieg ug. 23, 1932. M, CASSE 1,873,285

HAT SHAPING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1929 4 Sheets-.Sheet 4 by fw V Amm/)ey "--UNATED STATES 'MARCEL cAss, or Essoiviins, FRANCE Y y Y Patented Aug. 23, 1932 HAT-sunnite irriicirrm i Application medium vri, 1929, serian Nb. 369,115, alla inlrraneeJanelgdjieasiif This invention relates to hat-'shaping 'or blocking machines Vcomprising a block or` form, on which the hat blank is, adapted to be stretched by means of a reciprocable collar eiligaging the hat blank between said block and a number of clamping members adapted to clamp the edge of thehat blank. Said col Y circulating through perforations of theblock and through the hat blank; it has also for', its object toprovide a process whereby the hat is `fixed in'shape on the block, by'eXtencL 0 ing the heating period for a certain time after the hat has beenl stretched on the block.

`The invention has also for its object to provide improved stretching means embody` ing a deformable collar adapted toform the joint line between the hat bell and brim rat' the proper place, and without producing an excessive stretching of thebell portion of the 1 hat blank.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved block andfprocessof manufacturing the same, whereby an abundant mass of fluidmay be lcirculated through the hat blank in V airelatively short time;

another Vobject is to provide 'a block of inexpensive manufacture and very accurate shape. Y

A still further object of the invention is to devis-e an improved machine whichoperates speci'ed in the followingdescription, with reference to the appended drawings,` given,

solely by way of example7 and in which:

.Fig l is a cross-section on the line' 1--1 of Fig. 4, showing in sectional elevation an im`` i shaped from a sheet of such metals, of about .one millimeter thickness ,f"perforated with holes which are as minute as`poss`ible.` -F'rom this sheet or blank'is cut the lateral wall'an'd" proved hat-shaping invention;V v f machine "according to the44 .I .Y

i Fig.-2 is a cross section on theilin'e ofV of Ilig. 4, showing partof the niechanismin( side'elevation. 'l I' Fig". Siis an elevationalfview,fpartly in secL4 tion, 'showing the ldriving and clutch mechanisins.V Y 4 Fig. 4: is a horizontal section on the; 1ine` lofFigJBig Fig. 5 is a partial section of theljointline' fo'rming-collar"" 1 Figs. 6 and 7 illustrating the deformation ofthe collar in operation.A y i' The hat shaping" machine' illustrated Tin thefdrawing's essentially comprises a block 1 or form 4, on which Athe'hat blank vis adapted to rest,a number of clamping members'f1,00` arranged'in'` a. circle about said'l block and i adapted Vto clamp thefedge 'ofthehatbl'ank l; a collar l5 adaptedv to Iengage the hatV blank' between the blockl and theclamplOO`;"a"V heating bonnet 70 adapted to cover the hat blank on the block, andsuitablemechanisms for controlling vthe above mentioned'parts; 1 The block't illustrated in Fig. lfis made ofi are views similar to Fig.v 5,`

minutely perforatedsheet metal 'such as copf Y per, Monel metalor the like, It is preferably the top, the latter being suitablystarir'p'ed'. The lateral wall andthe top are thenbrazed vso together or are preferably welded bythe au# I togenous process, and vthe resulting rough f block is shaped by the hammeror press'. TheE 'shaping or stamping by the press is prefer-Q ably effected iii the mould usedwithA the hy-V' draulic press,in which the hats to beblocked' are subsequently pressed. The surface 'of y eredge of s'aidblock is soldered toa ring 4a. i i The block thusl prepared is llaid onA a perforated base 5,V optionally curved `l andsup` ported by a ,cupV shaped' support 7 having bosses a and 'studs 7b engifaging apertures of ling 4a, whereby the block 4 maybe 'readily j ,l said bloc-k may betinned, or may lbeiilate'fl` i with nickel, `chromium 'or the like. I y The low'- icc laid and centered on base 5. The chamber v6 formed between base 5 and support 7 has warddyto release projection 38.

an annular groove 28 into which opensa steam supply pipe 8 and is provided at its centre with a seat 29 for a valve 14 whose rod 31 is guided through a spider Vguide 32. Support member 7 .is mounted at the upper end of a vertical conduit 33 of large cross-'section.- The lower end of conduit 33 opens into-a hollow connecting member 34, which is suitably curved and to Which/is attached-a `flexible hole 35 (Fig. 4), opening l into and secured to a suitable receptacle 353,in which* a vacuum is produced bv any suitable means such as afan, an ejector operating with steam orl compressed air, a pump, or the like.

Connecting member 34 is secured to a de -f pending tube 36, and the unit comprising block 4, member 7,'condu/it member 34`and tube 36 is slidably mounted in ay guiding member 37 secured to the lower face of atable 25 `supported by twofspacedvvertical. plates 26-27, table 25 and plates 26-27, forming the maehineframe. l j

Guidingrmember 37 ishollowand .com-l prises avertical slot 42 through. whichv eX- tends a projection 38 of connecting member 34, said projection moving along said slot in thevertical motion of member 34. The oppo-v projection38 engages pand-'39, as shown in Figzll, the vertically movable. unit 4 -7- 33f34-3-36- is held in: an elevated position. To; release the latter and' all-ow the downward movement thereof, handle 40 is turned "up- Member 34isprovided with Ya portion 43Iadaptedto enter a corresponding recess 44,'formed at the b'aseoft member 37, whenlthe pawl is released, thereby dam-ping 1".:the. shock. when vtube 36-reachesits lowerA position.

' f 'Wi-thin tube 36 i-s slida-blymounted a plunger 45. seeured to the lower end ofrrod 319e springv 46, bea-ring against the lower i face o. member 34 andthe upper face of plunger45, urges rodj3-1Vand valve14 downwardly to` apply valve -14 against its seat. 'Plimger45-bears-at litslowerendon1y a roller f lhaving locking members'68 adapted to .flock 47 supportedfby a eran-lelever 48, pivotally :if mounted on a; shaft 49,l c'arriedbyl the machine fraine Aititsopposite end, said crank lever. carries Ya `roller 50, engaging;r acam` member 51.keyed toav drivingshaft 52,.y It

will. be seenthat the rotationvof the camA in thezdirectizonof arrowrf1 causes a lower flange At the lowery end of tube 36 l'and on either Yside thereof are mountedrollers 53, engaging Y the upper faces of two balance levers 55 and 56. Both levers are loosely mountedl ons'haft 49 and arelrigidly connected together by means of cross rods 57l and 58. Lever V55 is substantially rectilinear, as.. shown in Fig. '1, and carriesfat its front end a coun- ,terweight55' Lever 56 has a straight front portion' having' a similar counterweight 56, c

`while itsrear portion has substantially the rsha-pe of a segmentand *its inner edge is formed a curvedrecess56b adapted tor receive Va correspondingly curved pro] ectionA 60? of afcai'n 60 vmountedon shaft 52 (forthey angularposition ofsaid'cam shown inQdotand-dash lines), an angularrecess 561 adapt.-v Y .8,5 ed to receivevan angular projectionfGOloff Vcam 60, .and a,projectifn'g bracket 56d adapted to be received in thefrecess of saidcam be'- tween projections 6 0ya and 60h; said bracket` 56d carries a roller 59fcooperating. with `cam 60.y Cam 60. comprises a circular raised portion having a series ofnlotches-61 onfaportion of its periphery. The lower portion ofsaid camvis connected to the raised portion by a roundedsuriace boundingrprojgection 6 0? and ,1a straight radialfedge bounding.v projection 60h. It will be seenthatthe rotation of camy 66 in .the direction ,of arrow f2', .from the' position shown in full lines in liligr 2, will ifirstV leave levers andf56'in the position shown.v

Then vvroller 59' wil-l move toward `shaft 52H` intothe recess of cam. 60, thus allowingv the downward movement of Y counterweights 555g,

56?# and block 4 ;v then roller 5 9 will'ride over the curved'edgeof projection 60?, thus lower-v ing therearend of levers55-56 and restoring the block4 into Ythe position shown in Fig. 1; a further rotation of cam 60 KVproduces a. jerked motion of levers 55%56 and` hence 'no' of block54,due to notches 61. l

To cross rod 58ais pivoted an upwardly eX- tendingfrod 63'slidable in afholeV ofatrans Y verserod 624, pivoted between thespaced wallsof a bracket 65, mounted atthe lower endofV a column 66; a spring 6 2 bearing on rod 64 abovcitable 25. y

'At the upper part mounted the'hub 69a of an arm 69, said hub said hub in lany suitable angular andraxial position ony column 66. -The inner endof armv 69 ris* enlarged and-has an"y aperture in? which is kmountedy a- `bonnet 70' adapted.T tol cover block 4 in the lower position. of columnofcolumn 66 is' loosely` )Vithin bonnet 7 0 is mounted a coiled tube 71 conncctedwith a set of radiating tubes 73,

mounted transversely A adjacent the upper:

opening 72Y of said bonnet. l Said radiating f'tubes and-said coil tube are-supplied with" Y Ysteam through a flexible pipe 86; they may also be heated by means of ari-electric rc sistance.l

iThe enlarged end Vof arm tlf-lisprovidedy 102 with 'anfannular flange 69h, to which are se` curedr a number of depeiidingrods 1G, connected at'the lower end to a rin gior; between said ring and alower ring 17 is clamped a collar of elastic material' (Fig.

The elastic collar 15`is oval or circular, according to the shape of .tlieblocle llien'in# operative, it has a truncated vlowerface, as

shown' inY Fig; 5, and it is adapted to engage'. the hat blank by its free edge 18, whose pe? 203 riphery is .considerablylarger than that of' the corresponding base portion of the hat block 4.v lhen the hat 'form or'block 4 and its supporting partsare raised during the hat shaping operation,bonnet 70 Vis lowered Y T- together with :the elastic collar 15.1` Duel toV the resistance of the hat and'to theelasticity of the collar 15, the said collar will bede-V formed, as shownfin Figures 6 and 7, where-Y with the edge 18 of the collar 15, engages the perforatedplate V5, the collar 1,5 will be t v'further deformedl duo to the further lower-:f

ing movement of the rigid collarla and will press the rim of the hat upony the perforated This bending 'further .reduces/the( plate 5. j perimeter of the edge, andthe `latter presses the rim of the hat against the block 4V4, at thel joint line with Athe brim. 1

Steam is admitted through a pipe 4 (Fig. 2) into a water separator` 75, which" preferably also, comprises a set-of tubes 78er a coil o'tube `arranged circularly `around central chamber, through whichextends a burner 77 or aheating resistance supplied with electric current. `SteamA passing through tubes .76 is superheated and well dried. Y

The upper part of separator, 7 5 is connected with pipe 86 supplying bonnet?` while its. lower part is connected with pipe 8, provided' with a valve V78. The rod 83 of said valve isA pivoted at its lower end to a lever 81,v fulcrumed in a bracket 82 securedk below table 25 `and'having an outwardly Aprojecting handle 85.l `The other 'end of lever 8'1is pivoted to `the'upper end of a fork lever 8O,A which straddles shaft 52 land carries a' roller'f9 adapted to cooperate witha cam 79, keyed to shaft 5.2. It will be seen that the Vclosing'and opening of valve 7 8 is thus controlled by the rotation of shaft 52 and cam 7.9, and that saidvalve may also be actuated byhand by means 7 j ofhandle 85.

, The machine is driven by shaft 52, to which" is keyed a flarge gear wheel 87. (Figi mounted in a casing' 87@L bolted topla'tev27,

said wheel meshingwith'ja wormgear 88 4 mounted on a shaft 88.av at theouterend 1- whereof is `loosely mounted a Vdrivingpulley p 89. The inner surface of said pulley 'formsf a clutch cone Vadapted to cooperate Awithl a clutch member 90, slidably mounted onshaft 88a and rotatable therewith by means of 'anj' elongated key 88".` Integralv with-linember 90 is'a hollow sleeve 90a containing aspring 880i, I.

adapted to urge member 90 into the clutching position. Sleeve 90a is provided with a pe'- ripheral groove, adapted to be engaged'bya fork 91 secured to a shaft 91a, to which-is' also secured a bracket 92;a-'swivel 92b exi-j tends through said bracket andthe branches offa'. fork 92.i formedat the lower end ofa clutch `operating lever 92. Said lever car.

ries a roller 94, adapted to cooperate withfaff` cam member 93 keyed to shaft 52. It willi be understoodthat rotation of shaft 52 inthe4 direction of arrow f1r(Fig. 1) causes'the clockwise rotation of lever 92 about shaft 91a into the unclutching position.` If 'it-is desired to relieve the clutch from the action j of cam 93, lever 92 `is'plivoted about swivelh 92h away from plate 27Vv (Fig..4) against the action ofA a spring 92a, vattachedtto lever 92" The angular setting of j cam 93 with regard to cam 60 is such that the I and to casing 87a.

automatic unclutching of clutch V8 990 by cam93 is produced at two instants, viz

Whenthe parts are in the position shown` in Fig. l, that is, when the stretching of the hat is completed; and at the end of the oper? leo ative cycle of the machine, when bonnet 70 as-f. i

sumes its uppermost position. Y

these are'con'structed and actuated lowing manner:

Referring now to the clamping members," 119 i in the folf 0n table25 is arranged'a circular row of U-shaped brackets 94, coaxialvr with'blook`4" (Fig. 1), and arms 96 are pivotedto said brackets by means of pins 95.1.Eacli arm cariA ries at its upper end a pivot pin 99, to which 1 is pivoted a clamping jaw 100,whosef1front Y portion 98Y is adapted to cooperate with-the im upper face of arm 96, to clamp the edge of.

the hat-blank, a projeotion101 forming. aV

stop to position the edge of the hat blank.

Eachupper aw 100 is pivoted to a curved vfork102, secured to a rod 103, pivoted at 105 to asmall bracket 106, secured to an annular.y

plate 107. Said `plate isinountedontwo up? f rights 108 (Fig. 3) located on either side of the machine and whichV are guided vertically in4v guides 109 secured to the` underfacebof table 25. The lower endsof uprights 108 are y pivotally connectedto the upper ends of small paresse-27. Tesina-.115iskeyedeiever rods whose lower ends are pivotedto respective straps 111;,each v,strap yhas. an aper-l ture 112-withtwo 'parallel straight faces 113 and is loosely'pivoted to an eccentric ournal,

-114fof 'a Vshaft '115,' pivotally mounted in 116 (Figs;.3 and 4) havingat its upper part secured to the ends of a shaft 122, to which is Tovshaft 122V a'` nut 117,;,engaging a'screw 11,8:to theouter Y end whereof yis secu-red" a Lhandwheel119. Said, screw 118 isjournalled in a member 120, rotatably mounted in plate 27, and adapted to prevent axial movement of screw 118.

.Inithe openings 112 ofstrap 111, are rotat-V ably mounted respective cam members 121,

securedfan operating lever'1'23. is also keyed an armv124 (Fig. 2)., pivoted at 125 to a'lever 12.6, whose forked end straddles shaft 52 and which carries a rollerl 128, adapted to cooperate with a cam member A '129, keyed to shaft-52; said cam 129 is adapted toj-move lever 126 lengthwise and to cause l the automatic release of the V clamping members at the endof the operative cycle'of the machine by rotating shaft 122 and cam members 121 inthe direction of arrow f2 (Fig. 3)

V- radii are R1 and R2.

'Small springs 135, bearing on table 25 and lon the lowerqface of arm 96, are adapted to urge f the blocksq130 against disc 133. The radii R1 45": centre, whereby arms 96 are caused lto pivot 5 'ranged in an oval. 1t will thus be seen that-v of the several curved surfaces V131 are suchv that all the clamps are disposed in a circle whe-nblocks 130 engage disc 133.

In the. stretching operation, which is produced by the lowering movement of collar 15 and fthe upward movement of block4, the

edge `of 'the hat blank is drawn toward the about pins 95, andblocks 130 engage Vdisc 134. The radii R2 of the several surfaces 132 are such ythat-,when blocks 130 engage disc'13l4, the 'variousV clamping members are then ar-y the clamping members which clamp the 'cirp cular edge of the hat'blank stretch the latter into aneoval. n

Disc 134 is mounted on two rods 136, lo-- catedfon either side of the machine, and.y

guided' vertically in guides 137v (Fig. 2) securedto the underface of table 25'. Each rod 1361 is provided with two spaced flanges 136a` d and 136", embracing a rounded part V138Pat they end of a lever 138, pivoted to a shaft 139.

i The opposite ends of levers 138 are connected together by a rod 140, connectedby a rod-141 to iarpedal lever142, pivoted to the frame at 143, andhaving a counterweight 144; said counterweight tends to raise rod 141 and to lower 'members 136 and disc 134, thus urging the 'clamp members toward machine.

To shaft 139 is keyed asector 145, having `a v notch 146, adaptedtobe engaged by a pawl'.l '147 on a lever 148,pivoted to rod'140. VIt willC K the .centre of thel be seen that, when pawl 147 engagesnotch-1,v 146, rod 140 becomes rigidly, connectednwitlr sector and hence with shaft 139. To shaftV 139 is also keyed an arm 149 '(Fig.' 2).. whoseI upper end carries a nut 150 engaging ascrew t 151, provided with alhand-wheel 152 (Figi 4) said screw is journalled in a bracket 153; (Fig. 4) pivoted toY plate26 and which pre-Y Yvents axial displacement of screw 151.-v

y Rotation ofvk hand-wheel '152 causes rotation of shaftv139 and'sector149, forv adjust.-

ing the angular position of notch 146, and

hence the vertical positionl assumed bydiscf 134 when pawl 147 .engages said notch.

The operationis as follows: K The machine being at rest, cani position and block 4 in its lowermost posi tion. the engagement of pawl 39 below projection 38. Pawl 147 is disengaged fromnotch 146,

whereby pedal 142 is raised by counterweight 144 and the clamping members 100v are disposedin a circular row nearthe centre ofthe Lever 123 assumes the positionshown inFig. 3, whereby uprightsr 108, plate 107 and rods 103 are elevated and the clampsv machine.

100 are open.V y v Y The hat blank 1is presented above block 4 and the edge ,thereofy is engaged intofthe clamps, the latter being broughtto asuitable distance from thev vertical axis of block 4 by depressing pedal 142 against theY actionof" Block 4 isrheld yin this positionby 60 assumes 'i the position shown in dot-andfdash' lines in. Fig. 1, whereby bonnet 7 0 is, in its uppermost? counterweight 144 and releasing pedal v1421y until'projections 101 engage the edge of the;

hat blank. By drawing lever 123 to the left (Fig. 3), cam 121V depresses strap 111.7andv lowers plate 107, thus .bringing the clamps into the clamping position. The'amount of clamping pressure may be adjusted according n to the thickness ofthe hat blank, by rotating.

hand-wheel 119, thus moving nut' 117 Yalong screw 118 and rotating the eccentric journals 115. This adjustment alters the position of theV axis about which strap 111 is rotated,

` and hence the vertical stroke of uprights 108i Pedal 142 is then further depressed, thus. raising discs 133` and 134, whereby' arms 96V arerocke'd in the vdirection of arrows f3 (Fig.

V1) ,'V which produces the stretching of the hat.-

blank into an oval shape, as above explained.

This movement of arms 96 is continued until pawl 147 snaps into notch 1646, the angular position'of which has'beenadjustedvby actuating hand-wheel 152, thus, conforming the position of the clamping members with the size to be given to the hat brim..

Clutch lever 92, which assumes its upper-Y most position due to; roller `94;.engaging 4the raised portion of cam 93,1s then pivotedaway from the V machine about; swivelA 'r92'... Spring '88@ urges sleeve, 90tfilllojthe clutching, position, and, as soonL as released, lever 924s urged back against plate 26 byspring92a. The machine-being.thusstarted, cam 6,0 .1s

`rotated. fromthe position shown l in dot-.anddash lines'n Eier' lilitherdrection Of arrow f1 and" ,rollerfl59 rides over-(the curved portion 60.af Caml 60; levers 55-' 56.areA rocked position, collar 15 presses the hat brim against base 5 in the manner above described and bonnet surrounds the bell portion of the hat;

at this instant, cam 93 raises roller 94 and .lever 92, which pivots about shaft 91a, thus unclutching the machine. Block 4 is held in its upper position by pawl' 39, valve'78 is still in its open position, and hence the steaming of the hat, stretched, on block 4,Y

is continued as long as shaft 52 is at rest, due to the unclutching of the machine. Superheated steam supplied through pipe 8 escapes through the perforation of base 5 and block 4, and through the hat blank.

The steaming is continued for a given pe` riod, which depends on the temperature of the steam, on the thickness of the hat blank and on the material of .which said hat is made, in order to fix the shape of the hat; the coiled tube 71 serves to heat the bonnet and maintain the temperature within the lat ter above 100 C. Then, the operator again moves lever 92 away from the machine about swivel 92", and spring 88c again clutches the machine. In the initial movement of shaft 52, the raised portion rotates past roller 7 9a, whereby lever is lowered, thus closing valve 78 and stopping the steam supply; simultaneously, cam 51 raises roller 50, thus rocking lever 48 about shaft 49 and raising plunger 45, rod 31 and valve 14. Roller 59 still engages the circular portion of cam 60, whereby the block and the bonnet remain in the position shown in Fig. 1. Due to the opening of valve 14, an abundant mass of air is impelled through the opening 7 2 of bon` net 7 0, through the hat blank, the perfora-V tions of block 4 and base 5, chamber 6, conduit 33, member 34 and iieXible hose 35v into vacuum tank 35a. This current of air,A which is heated to the required temperature by I radiator 73, dries and cools the hat blank.

.Upon .a further rotation ofshaft 52, the .raised portion ofcam 60 v,rotates past roller 59, whereby-levers 55 and 56 are again rocked intothe position shown in dotand-dash lines inFig. Bonnetv70 is raised, blockf4-is lowered, and valve14 is closed by' the action of spring 46. j Simultaneously, cam 129 raises rollerl 128and shifts lever-126to the left4 FigfV 2) thus rotating shaft 122 `and cam i121, (Fig..`3) straps 111 oscillate labout, jour'- nals 115, toraise plate 107 and rods 103, thus releasing the clamps 100.` When these movef v.ments are completed, cam 93 again raises roller94, to unclutch the machine. The whole 1 mechanism is restored into its initial position,andthe hat, which isstretched, fixed in shape, dried and cooled, maybe removed ,from the machine bythe operator. k r Obviously, vthe invention is not limited .to

the Vdetails of construction hereinfdescribed have beengiven'only and represented which bywaycf example. Y.

,Forinstanca collar 15 Vmay be made of a rigid material; theA air current may also be produced by Van overl-pressure in bonnet 70, insteadof a vacuum withinblock 4.V

Having now vdescribed my invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure byLetters Patent is: e

1. In a hat shapingl machine, aV perforated l5 block adapted to receive the hat blank, means for circulating steam` vthrough said -block and hat blank, means for circulating lair through said block and hat blank, means for stretching the hat `blank on said block andmeans operatively connected with said stretching means for controlling said air and steamcirculating means. f

- 2. Infa.,hat'shaping'machina aframe,

block supporting member, abonnet support,-

. ing member, a lever Vpivoted to said frame be-l tween itsends and operatively connected to said members at its'respective ends,za cam follower on fsaid lever, a control. shaft and an actuating .camon saidv shaft engaging said cam follower.VA 4 Y j l l j..

`3. ,In a-hat shaping machine as claimed in claim2, a counterweight on said lever adapt-` ed'to urge/'said bonnet supporting memberupfl wardly whereby said block supporting mem-JV ber is allowed to move downwardly.

.4. A hat shaping `machineas claimed in claim 2, wherein said cam comprises a.low.

ered position corresponding to the lowered positionl `of saidl block supporting membery andthe elevated position of said bonnet supporting member, araised circular portion' corresponding to thereverse position of said` members, and a series of notches on a portion atleast 'of said circular portiontocause ay jerky motion ofsaid members. 5. In a Vhat shapingmachine, a control shaft,' a, driving member, -clutch 4means be *Y tween ,said shaft and said member, a perforated block adapted ,tolreceive the hatblank,-

was'

Uli)

. chine operative cycle.

'imi

' gage'sai'd recess in a predetermined position and'means onfsaidvshaft for're-un'clutching said clutch meansupon return of said stretching means to the idle position. 'A 6; Ina hat shaping machina a frame, a block adapted to receive'the hat blank, a circular rovv 'of clamping' members pivoted to said frame and adapted to clamp thev edge of name -to' this specification,

Said clamping members in adjasmble Vpositions; i p

v 110. In ahnt 'shaping machine as claimed inY claim 2, air ci'rfcalatngvmeans,valve means for controlling; said air circulating means, a 'valve controlling ,lever pivoted *to said lirst-metionedleverand adaptedv to actuateA said valve means; a cam follower onsaid valve controlling 'lever and acam member onv said shaftengaging said camfollovver. '4

' In testimony i'vvhereof I lhave signed my thev hatgblank, ra* joint ,line forming collar 'adapted for axial movement toengage said hat blank between said block and'clamping members,linner'projections on said clamping members, l and anaxially movable control member engaging said projections 'for .con-

trolling vthe pivotal movement of said'olamp-` ing members, the pivots for said Vclamping `members being arranged in a common trans;

versekeplane and said projections having curved 'surfaces ofvarymg radii 1n `the several projections, respectively,'vvhereby the opl erative partsof said clamping members are arranged in an oval When said projections engage'said control member. y 7; Ina hat Vshaping machine, clamping means adapted toclampv the edges ofthe hat Vblanln'means `forcontrolling the clampingfac= tion of said clamping means,`a shaft, a cam Y ,I L member on said shaft adapted to operate said controllingmeans, a manually operated ac tuating member on said shaft, shaft'rotating means, a driving shaft and a camrmember on said driving `shaft adapted to actuate said shaft rotating means jfor Vreleasing said Clamping means upon completion of the ma-A l'8f-A hatfshapi'ng machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controlling means yfor salidcla'mping means comprise a pivoted strap embracing said iirst-mentioned cam member', and means' for adjusting the 'position' of the pivot axis of said strap, for`v adjusting `the clamping action ofsaid clamping means.`

- 9.- In a hat shaping machine, anumber of' pivotalblamping members adapted to clamp the edge of the hat blank, a movable member for controlling the pivotal movement of lsaidvclamping members, means embodying an jos|` cill'ating lever for actuating' said movable member, a segment having; a recessatits pe ri hery, a latch pivoted to said leverand' a apted to ride over said segment and enof; said lever,-v and `means for adjusting the angularl 'position of said segment for locking' Y fioo 

